Kiwiana 2006

A summary of our New Zealand Tour 2006 / 2007 - Kiwiana

Kiwiana 2006 is a collection of photos, pictures and some information from our latest tour of New Zealand. Between the end of November 2006 and March 2007 we travelled mostly by campervan and covered a lot of territory in New Zealand.

Over the course of nearly 4 months we have walked on an active volcano, seen numerous species of birds and marine mammals, climbed a mountain, been choppered up to Glaciers, walked many trails, rode on tractors/trailers, shot across a river on a wire, sailed the Pacific, rode a bike after 20 years, kayaked, snorkelled, and so much more - a list the length of our arms!!

Nearly all of the activities and tours we have done have been exceptional, but one in particular stood out mostly for its uniqueness. It also rated high on our fun-o-metre and we consider it an absolute "must do":

So first place in our ratings (the creme de la creme) goes to:
Gannet Beach Adventures: Based out at Clifton in the Hawkes Bay on the North Island of New Zealand, they are under-rated in the travel guides but we consider this as the most fun and informative tour - and we did it twice! As well as visiting the gannets at Cape Kidnappers to watch the antics of these sometimes unsociable and clumsy birds, you are taken along a piece of coastline where layers of sediment have collected over centuries and are now uncovered through tectonic plate movement, all clearly visible. The tours are conducted from old red tractors which pull a small train of flat deck trailers along a beach which changes on a daily basis - and yes there are adventures including bogged tractors and trailers! Be sure to look them up during your next vacation in New Zealand.

March 22, 2007 marks the end of our Kiwiana 2006 tour and we will farewell Aotearoa, God's own, Kiwiland, Down under - but we will be back for sure! The diverse landscape, stunning scenery, culture, and wildlife of New Zealand is simply irresistible.

Make sure to read our daily blog about this tour: New Zealand Travel Blog - Kiwiana 2006/2007

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Scenic Shotover River Skippers Canyon Central Otago A scenic view of the green shaded water of the Shotover River meandering its way through Skippers Canyon in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand.	Valley Landscape Central Otago South Island NZ Paddocks and farmland make up the beautiful landscape of the Kawarau River Valley near Queenstown in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand.	Russell Lupins Wildflowers Central Otago River Russell Lupins decorate the banks alongside the Cardrona River in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand, the ideal location for these wildflowers to flourish.
Treble Cone Waterfall Central Otago New Zealand A waterfall cascades over the rock cliffs of Treble Cone in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand where visitors like to hike or mountain bike in the summer months.	Yellow Plant Lupinus Arboreus Picture Lupinus arboreus is the scientific name for the Yellow Tree Lupins, a plant that grows wild across the landscape near Lake Hawea in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand.	Lakeside Farmland Lake Hawea Central Otago Lakeside farmland dotted with sheep grazing in the lush fields overlooking Lake Hawea in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand.
Roadside Sign Central Otago Lake New Zealand Along the roadside to Lake Hawea in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand, a sign warns travellers to slow down due to the winding road.	Sweet Briar Flowers Lake Wanaka Central Otago Bright pink flowers on the Sweet Briar plant bloom along the lakeshore of Lake Wanaka in Central Otago, New Zealand bringing colour to the hillsides.	Lake Wanaka Shoreline Central Otago NZ The shoreline of Lake Wanaka in Central Otago on the South Island of NZ, brings to life the beautiful vegetation that flourishes along the base of the hillsides.
Beautiful Lake Wanaka Central Otago New Zealand The beautiful scenery of Lake Wanaka and the Makaroa River Valley in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand.	Kaikoura Peninsula Rugged Coastline Sunset Sunset colors explode across the rugged coastline of the Kaikoura Peninsula near the Seal Colony that reside on the South Island of New Zealand.	South Bay Canterbury NZ Sunset An amazing sunset encompasses the South Bay in Canterbury, NZ as the peaceful landscape and calm waters fill the area with silence.
Rolling Hills Kaikoura Peninsula Countryside New Zealand The countryside on the Kaikoura Peninsula on the South Island of New Zealand consists of rolling hills adorned in beautiful shades of green.	Historical Fyffe House Kaikoura New Zealand The historical Fyffe House along the coastline of Kaikoura on the South Island of New Zealand is known to be the oldest house around the region.	Toi Toi Grass Plants Picture Kaikoura Beach NZ Toi Toi grass plants are beautiful as they sway in the wind that blows across the Kaikoura beach in the Canterbury region on the South Island of New Zealand.
Beach Walkway View Kaikoura New Zealand At one area along the beach walkway, you can view the buildings and surrounding hillsides that make up a section of Kaikoura, New Zealand.	Canterbury New Zealand East Coast Village Cafes and shops line the main street in the small village in Canterbury on the East Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.	Sunset Cloud Cover Kaikoura Coast New Zealand The cloud cover over South Bay and the Kaikoura Coast on the South Island of New Zealand displays an array of hues during the sunset hours.
Cute Duck Picture Lake Rotoiti Nelson Lakes NP A female mallard duck keeps a wary eye on her cute ducklings as they take to the cool waters of Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park, South Island, New Zealand.	Coastal Landforms Watering Cove Abel Tasman National Park The constant wearing of the coast in the Abel Tasman National Park of New Zealand has created some interesting coastal landforms which can be seen during a hike from Anchorage Bay to Watering Cove.	Coastal Erosion Abel Tasman NP New Zealand While kayaking the coastal waters of the Abel Tasman National Park on the South Island of New Zealand, the erosion of the soft granite rocks can be clearly seen.
Lighthouse Cloud Formations Coastal Scenery The scenery from the Cape Palliser Lighthouse is stunning as the cloud formations swirl above the coastal regions of Wairarapa on the North Island of New Zealand.	Light House Sunset North Island New Zealand Beautiful pink hues adorn the sky at sunset at Cape Reinga on the North Island of New Zealand over the Cape Reinga Lighthouse.	Wooden Stairs Cape Palliser Lighthouse Cliff Follow the wooden stairs up the steep slope of the cliff until you reach the top where you can explore the Cape Palliser Lighthouse and enjoy the incredible view that New Zealand offers.
Lighthouse Beacon Castlepoint New Zealand The beacon atop the Castlepoint Lighthouse in Wairarapa on the North Island of New Zealand continues to flash automatically across the waters to aid vessels to safety if needed.	Lighthouse Beach Coastal Sunset Castlepoint Visitors to Castlepoint can enjoy the sunset that adorns the coastal shores of Wairarpa on the North Island of New Zealand from the lighthouse or on the beach at the lagoon.	Cook Strait Sunset Coastal Scenery The coastal scenery around Cape Palliser on the North Island of New Zealand looks out over the Cook Strait and is especially picturesque at sunset.
Marine Plants Picture Bull kelp is one of the marine plants that reproduces quickly along the coastline at the Fossil Forest at Curio Bay on the South Island of New Zealand.	First Church Windows Picture Otago NZ Various pictures are shown in the stained glass windows that adorn the First Church of Otago in the City of Dunedin on the South Island of New Zealand.	Coastline Seal Pup Cape Palliser New Zealand Looking helpless and alone on the coastline rocks at Cape Palliser on the North Island of New Zealand, a New Zealand Fur Seal pup waits patiently for its mother's return.
Sunset Lagoon Coastal Scenery Castlepoint A sunset settles in over the lagoon at Castlepoint in Wairarapa, New Zealand creating a stunning scenery picture of the coastal area.	Red Tractor Coastal Beach Tours A guide will drive this red tractor along the coastal areas of Hawkes Bay on the North Island of New Zealand, taking passengers on beach tours to the Australasian Gannet Colony.	Bird Family Australasian Gannet Picture An adult Australasian Gannet amongst all the other birds, is very attentive to her chick and tends to her family with great care at the Cape Kidnappers Colony on the North Island of New Zealand.
Ancient Tree Trunk Cape Kidnappers Beach Unique cliffs in the backdrop surround this ancient tree trunk which has become bared on the beach at Cape Kidnappers on the North Island of New Zealand.	Maori Woman Wairakei Terraces A Maori woman stands against a tree in her traditional clothing at the Wairakei Terraces in New Zealand.	Green Algae Terraces Orakei Korako Terraces near Hochstetter Cauldron at Orakei Korako near Taupo, New Zealand surround the outside edges along the rocks with green algae.
New Zealand Ocean Animals A young New Zealand Fur Seal, shimmies himself up the steep rocks towards his friend at the Cape Palliser Seal Colony on the North Island of New Zealand while the other ocean animals stay in the water.	Beautiful Colored Australian King Parrot The Australian King Parrot is a beautiful colored bird that resides in the Australian tropical rainforest and scrublands while breeding but will flock to parks, orchards and farms in other seasons.	Eudyptula Minor Blue Penguin The cutest of all the penguins is the Blue Penguin or Eudyptula Minor which can be found around inshore waters in temperate seas, but this one resides at the Auckland Zoo in New Zealand.
Zoo Model Giraffe A beautiful pose performed by a giraffe who has hopes of being a model while enjoying his residency at the Auckland Zoo in New Zealand.	Kaikoura Whale Watching Boat Wheketere NZ The bright blue and yellow colours of the Wheketere is seen daily on the waters off Kaikoura, NZ as long as there is enough passengers to board this whale watching boat.	Suffolk Sheep Picture Three Suffolk sheep in a lush green pasture in Nopera in Kenepuru Sound in Malborough on the South Island of New Zealand do not seem too concerned about having their picture taken.